Minnesota State, Mankato Players Practice for Hoffner

MSU football coach Hoffner was in tears Tuesday as he announced his plans to return to the school he was wrongly fired from in May 2013.Photo: Photo: KSTP/ Brandi Powell

Coach Todd Hoffner is back on the field at Minnesota State after football players ended their brief boycott of spring practice.

Hoffner joined his team for practice Friday. The Free Press of Mankato reports he did not run the drills but instead watched the team work out.

Hoffner was reinstated after being exonerated of having child pornography on his cellphone. But in a show of support for interim coach Aaron Keen, the players refused to practice when Hoffner returned Wednesday.

After meeting with coaches Thursday, the players said they would play for Hoffner.

Hoffner had accepted the head coaching job at Minot State University, but decided to return to Mankato after he was cleared of wrongdoing.